Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – During 15th Century

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – During 15^th Century

Changes in the management of the temple resulted from the great increase in endowments of land and money during the 15'" - 16'" Centuries. The number of temple villages increased from about 15 to 100 in the middle of the 14'" century. Monetary endowments carrying with them the responsibility of productive interest reached large proportions through this century of rapid growth, the basic secular management of temple remained intact. The management of the temple secular affairs under the Sthanattar was created in the late 14^th century when festivals and food offerings were few.

As wealth in the form of lands and money began to pour into the temple under the patronage of Vijayanagara rulers, the Temple expanded rapidly, a number of minor temples were established along with feeding houses and rest houses for the comfort of increased number of pilgrims, the establishment of the these minor and axillary institutions was a natural part of the growth of the temple consistent with the class of texts (Agamas) upon which temple procedures were based and with the development of other temples in South India.

The numerous minor and axillary temple institutions established at Tirupati between AD 1456 and 1570. The sway of the Muslim kings of the Golkonda and Bijapur over the Carnatic country was a passing phase. Aurangzeb after becoming the emperor at Delhi was keen capturing Deccan and incorporate the Carnatic countries to his empire. When, Vijayanagara prince Kumara Kampana fought the Sultanate of Madura, when Shivaji and his successors had to fight against the Muslim armies, the natural destruction of the Muslim and Maratha powers and consequent rise of the British power were inevitably connected with fortunes of the temple.